Chapter 6
Day 8
We woke up that that the sun was high in the sky, bright and scorching. We had a nice breakfast in a bar furnished with wooden tables surrounded by tall plants that it felt like we just stepped into a rain forest. Hot coffee, toasted bread and scrambled eggs. We lacked of fantasy that morning.
Wanakeling
Later we were reached by Yum Yum and with him we moved to the town of Ubud where we took a room into the gorgeous Sri Bungalow Hotel. The hotel was made by a group of cottages in Balinese style. We loved this hotel since the first moment.
Today was the “Rice Paddies and Landscapes Day”. We left Ubud that it was late morning and Yum Yum took us to a series of viewpoints on the Rice Paddies, one more beautiful than the other, for example, we liked much Wanakeling e Jatiluwith
Along the way, Yum Yum took us to his home to meet his family. Actually, in the same ground rose few houses belonging to different Yum Yum’s siblings. On a side of the main garden, just next the entrance gate, there was the “Family Temple ground”. In this area rose many small pagoda-like towers. It looks like it was a noble family house, or at least, that family had been noble long time ago.
He invited us into his home and asked us to take off our shoes. Now the traveller’s dilemma: follow the local customs risking of taking a fungus skin infection or decline offending the local people? We entered that home. Lula, as soon as she saw the garbage-packed interiors of house, recalled her strong self-protecting instinct and with the excuse of feeling the unbearable need to go and meet Yum Yum’s sister in the garden, she vanished and went outside. In the meanwhile, I helped the dirty bastard making some coffee, hopefully a garbage-free one. The kitchen floor was a carpet of ants, the walls and the window panes were stained of food remains and dark grease, the bed room was of an unprecedented filth. But I needed to stay there and be sure that he made correctly boil that water before pouring the coffee inside. He was lowering the flame when water looked just barely warm, so I said “You know, I love the coffee when is very-very-very hot!” and then, playing with his badly hidden misogyny “...cold coffee is for ladies! We men drink it boiling!” and he, grinning, pushed the propane gas at full gauge. Like a real man. Sometimes, my provocations work too. When the coffee was ready I took a couple of cups outside, skidding between stains of sticky slime and smashed bugs. It was definitely disgusting. Lula glanced at me and asked if I was sure that Yum Yum boiled the water. I replied “Sure, there are millions of ants, and only Vishu knows what else, that witnessed the fact”. After this long hot and huge coffee, that tasted of rust and saw dust (was it the supposed excellent Balinese coffee?) we took a trip around his huge chicken pen full of guano and then we left the place.
Today was the “Rice Paddies and Landscapes Day”. We left Ubud that it was late morning and Yum Yum took us to a series of viewpoints on the Rice Paddies, one more beautiful than the other, for example, we liked much Wanakeling e Jatiluwith
Along the way, Yum Yum took us to his home to meet his family. Actually, in the same ground rose few houses belonging to different Yum Yum’s siblings. On a side of the main garden, just next the entrance gate, there was the “Family Temple ground”. In this area rose many small pagoda-like towers. It looks like it was a noble family house, or at least, that family had been noble long time ago.
He invited us into his home and asked us to take off our shoes. Now the traveller’s dilemma: follow the local customs risking of taking a fungus skin infection or decline offending the local people? We entered that home. Lula, as soon as she saw the garbage-packed interiors of house, recalled her strong self-protecting instinct and with the excuse of feeling the unbearable need to go and meet Yum Yum’s sister in the garden, she vanished and went outside. In the meanwhile, I helped the dirty bastard making some coffee, hopefully a garbage-free one. The kitchen floor was a carpet of ants, the walls and the window panes were stained of food remains and dark grease, the bed room was of an unprecedented filth. But I needed to stay there and be sure that he made correctly boil that water before pouring the coffee inside. He was lowering the flame when water looked just barely warm, so I said “You know, I love the coffee when is very-very-very hot!” and then, playing with his badly hidden misogyny “...cold coffee is for ladies! We men drink it boiling!” and he, grinning, pushed the propane gas at full gauge. Like a real man. Sometimes, my provocations work too. When the coffee was ready I took a couple of cups outside, skidding between stains of sticky slime and smashed bugs. It was definitely disgusting. Lula glanced at me and asked if I was sure that Yum Yum boiled the water. I replied “Sure, there are millions of ants, and only Vishu knows what else, that witnessed the fact”. After this long hot and huge coffee, that tasted of rust and saw dust (was it the supposed excellent Balinese coffee?) we took a trip around his huge chicken pen full of guano and then we left the place.
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
The following place was the amazing Pura Ulun Danu Beratan temple. Along the way he kept on saying that we should become business partners or, as I understood from his plans, crime accomplice. In fact, he wished that I’d advertise him and his house as wonderful Bed and Breakfast in order to drag there lots of Italians. Ok, perhaps I’d put there somebody hat I hate, but only the worst ones.
The Ulun Danu Beratan temple is in a volcanic lake. Some parts of the temple are on the “main land” while others rise from small islands few metres from the lake coast. The temples are in the usual Balinese pagoda-style. We loved this temple, it was absolutely amazing! Of course, this temple fitted instantly in the “Best Places Around the World List” of mine.
The Ulun Danu Beratan temple is in a volcanic lake. Some parts of the temple are on the “main land” while others rise from small islands few metres from the lake coast. The temples are in the usual Balinese pagoda-style. We loved this temple, it was absolutely amazing! Of course, this temple fitted instantly in the “Best Places Around the World List” of mine.
Jatiluwith
We bought some fruit from the local fresh market outside the temple, and then we left to visit more Rice Paddies. Yum Yum was becoming more and more irritating. He only answered at my questions, while he kept silent at the Lula’s ones. We drove up to Jatiluwith, where we saw the best Rice Paddies of all Bali. So green and peaceful! Then, while leaving, with Yum Yum maneuvering his car, we finished with a wheel in a pit at the side of the street. We had to get off the car and we pushed her outside the hole. I had just time to see Lula losing balance that I grabbed her on time by her wrist before she fell. It was so scary! But she was safe and sound! As soon as we entered the car Yum Yum said “Thank you Fra...”, I replied “Say Thank You to Lula too...” and he grunted something to her too.
Ubud evening
We arrived in Ubud that it was raining. That evening we had dinner at the famous Lotus Bar and then a massage in a very beautiful massage centre. When we came back to our hotel, seeing that the swimming pool was deserted, we decided to have a swim there.
While in water a guardian came next to the pool and asked if he could have a small chat with us in order to train his English. Of course, we’re always glad to talk with local people.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find other common subject that food “Satay is very good” and he replied “Yeee Sat' vewy gooooo”. I tried to ask him about the Chicken Fights and we ended talking about poultry “Chicken Satay is very good!”, “Yeee Chik'n Sat' vewy gooooo”. It looked like Food is a universal conversation subject. In this case, it means that I’m Polyglot!
While in water a guardian came next to the pool and asked if he could have a small chat with us in order to train his English. Of course, we’re always glad to talk with local people.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find other common subject that food “Satay is very good” and he replied “Yeee Sat' vewy gooooo”. I tried to ask him about the Chicken Fights and we ended talking about poultry “Chicken Satay is very good!”, “Yeee Chik'n Sat' vewy gooooo”. It looked like Food is a universal conversation subject. In this case, it means that I’m Polyglot!